Auxiliary keyboard for pianos



June 30, 1931. A, FRASCAN] 1,812,524

* AUXILIARY KEYBOARD FOR PIANOS Filed Aug. 22. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1June 30, A, FRASCAM 1,812,524

AUXILIARY KEYBOARD FOR PIANOS Filed Aug. 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 pvveN77 Patented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ARTURO FRASCANI, OF ROME, ITALYAUXILIARY KEYBOARD FOR PIAN OS Application filed August 22, 1929, SerialNo. 387,748, and in Italy December 22, 1928.

My present invention has for its object to provide an auxiliary keyboardfor pianos of any kind which though comprising,- as ordinary keyboards,some 85-88 keys, is of far smaller dimensions so as to allow of smallpersons, such as children, to easily strike octaves, and even ninths andtenths, and performing without straining the arms or body.

This auxiliary keyboard is arranged l0 drawer-like under the ordinarykeyboard and is drawn out for playing, and then pushed back into arecess in the body of the piano so as to restore the latter to its usualappearance.

35 The keys of the auxiliary keyboard are individually connected to therespective devices actuating the respective ordinary keys of the pianoso that on striking one or more keys of the auxiliary keyboard thec0rresponding chords of the piano are struck which would be struck whenactuating the corresponding keys of the ordinary keyboard.

It is obvious that the smaller and narrower auxiliary keys imply acorrespondingly smaller rotation angle and a correspondingly smallercounterweight on the key-lever.

In order that my present invention may be more clearly understood I amgoing to describe same by an illustrative, not limitative embodiment,referring to the annexed drawings in which Fig. 1 is a partiallysectioned side elevation of a cottage piano showing my present inventionapplied thereto,

Fig. 2 a corresponding view of a grand piano,

Fig. 3 a partial plan view of auxiliary keyboard and Fig. 4 a detailview of pivoted guide of striking pin.

From the above mentioned fact of the auxiliary key mechanisms beingindividually connected to the corresponding ordinary key mechanisms itappears that the connection links form, as a whole, a fanlike structure1, Fig. 3.

lVhilst the two keyboards are independent of each other both of themactuate the same striking pins 2, Fig. 1, each of which extend rom theback end of the key of the auxiliary keyboard 3 through the actuator ofthe corresponding ordinary key 4 and operates the hammer without movingthe ordinary key which, in this case, only provides a guideway for thestriking pin 2.

The striking pin 2 may also be shaped like the usual actuating mechanismextension and be guided in its movements by two pivoted arms 5, 6supported on a longitudinal rod 7 independent from the actuatingmechanism, Fig. 4.

On performing, however, on the ordinary keyboard 4 each ordinary key isdirectly positioned below the head of the pin which is common to both ofthe keyboards, and actuates the hammer without the corresponding key ofthe auxiliary keyboard being in any way engaged thereby.

For grand pianos the invention is slightly modified in that theactuating pin for each key extends from the auxiliary keyboard through aguiding aperture and strikes the actuating pin. 2 of the correspondingkey of the ordinary keyboard 4 thus operating the mechanism and thedamper without moving the ordinary keyboard, Fig. 2.

The auxiliary keyboard 3 is arranged below the ordinary keyboard 4,namely under the bearing plate 9 of the latter, and is slidinglydisposed on guides 10, Figs. 1 and 2. When the auxiliary keyboard 3 isnot used, the same remains invisible, being pushed drawer-like into thebody of the piano where it remains masked to the eye by the rotatablefront 12 of the main keyboard, Figs. 1 and 2.

To the two lateral heads 13 of the auxiliary keyboard 3 are attached theends'of a spring device 14 which locks the frame of the auxiliarykeyboard in its inner and outer positions. This device, Fig. 3,comprises a longitudinal rod 15 below the front part of the keyboard,keeping the keys in raised position and keeping their back endsdepressed so as not to strike the actuating pins when the keyboard isbeing pulled out or pushed in.

Upon each end of the rod 15 is fixed a lever 14 arranged at right anglesto the rod. The outer ends of the levers are provided with buttonslocated in openings in the associated side arts 13, while the inner endsthereof are provided with projections adapted to en gage in notches 16of the guide frame. In this manner the auxiliary keyboard may be firmlysecured in its open or playing position, or in its inoperative or inclosed position.

When the auxiliary keyboard is in its operative position, an inclinedprojection 17 on One of the two sides engages the rod 18 and raises thesame, as shown in Fig. 1, and approaches the hammer row of the mechanismat a distance equal to the difference between the depression of the keysof the two keyboards in order to obtain with either keyboard the samepercussion of the strings by the hammers and adapt the key movement ofthe auxiliary keys to the performance of small persons or children. Therod 18 functions as a conventional damping pedal.

The auxiliary keyboard, as stated, is smaller than the main keyboard.There, however, may be cases in which it will be desirable that theauxiliary keyboard is of the same dimensions as the main keyboard, forinstance, for four handed'performance or special pianistic effects. Insuch cases, of course, the rod 18 may be omitted.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of myinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. A piano having an unobstructed chain ber under thekeyboard thereof, actuating signature.

ARTURO FRASCANI.

pins slidably associated with the keys of said 7 V keyboard, anauxiliary keyboard slidable in the chamber and having its keys arrangedin diverging relation, the inner ends of the keys of the auxiliarykeyboard being positioned under the actuating pins when the auxiliarykeyboard is confined within the chamber and adapted to be moved undersaid pins when the auxiliary keyboard is slid outwardly from the chamberinto playing position.

2. A piano having an unobstructed chamber under its keyboard, a closurefor the front end of the chamber, actuating pins associated with thekeyboard, an auxiliary keyboard slidably mounted in the chamber, theinner ends of the keys of the auxiliary keyboard being adapted to bemoved under the pins when the auxiliary keyboard is moved outwardly fromthe chamber, and locking

